priest & writer

“Who made the changes to the World Meeting of Families promotional material?”
Association of Catholic Priests
Tuesday 6 March 2018

The Association of Catholic Priests is concerned that, following the earlier removal of photographs from a leaflet, the organisers of the World Meeting of Families have now also removed the words of Bishop O’Connell (Archdiocese of Los Angeles) from their promotional video clip. His words were such that we find it impossible to understand how anyone who supports the message of Pope Francis could object to them.
Once again, the effort at explaining this change is inadequate. No clear statement has been made as to why these actions were taken, and on whose direction. Both leave themselves open to interpretations which are very damaging to the WMOF. Who is making the decisions? Where is the funding coming from? Has the source of the funding anything to do with the decisions being made?
Without clear explanations, questions like these, and many others, will continue to be asked.
We believe that it is important that Archbishop Diarmuid Martin makes a statement clarifying why these two alterations were made, who decided on them, and why. Otherwise any further effect to present the WMOF as a welcoming place for everyone will be seen for what it is, empty rhetoric.